Clothes drying device



T AIM Jan. 22, 1957 J. R. MOORE CLOTHES DRYING DEVICE Filed May 10, 1955 INVENT OR Jon/v R. MOORE ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,778,551 CLOTHES DRYING DEVICE John R. Moore, Milan, Mich. Application May 10, 1955, Serial No. 507,254 1 Claim. (Cl. 223-68) This invention relates to a clothes drying device, and it particularly relates to a clothes drying device of the portable and adjustable type.

People who do a great deal of travelling or who live in hotel rooms or small apartments, frequently wash small articles of clothing by hand in a bathroom sink or the like, and hang them up to dry in any convenient place, as for example, the rim of a bathtub, the shower curtain rod or a towel rack. This type of clothes hanging does not permit the clothes to be properly spread out so that the air may circulate freely therethrough to effect a quick and thorough drying. There are now on the market, it is true, various stand-up types of drying racks which can be set up to provide hanging space, but these stand-up drying racks are generally large and bulky and are not convenient for relatively cramped quarters such as a hotel room. Furthermore, they cannot conveniently be transported and are much too bulky to be carried in the luggage of traveller.

Today, many articles of clothing such as hosiery, shirts, blouses, underwear, and the like, are made of synthetic fabrics which are adapted to be washed and dried to a smooth finish which obviates the necessity of ironing. Such clothing is particularly adapted to travelling since it permits for less luggage to be carried than would ordinarily be necessary. However, in such case, the im portance of a compact and convenient clothes drying means is even of greater importance to the traveller than would otherwise be the case.

It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a clothes drying device which is small and light, and which can be easily folded from operative to inoperative carrying position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes drying device which can be set up in operative position in a relatively confined area.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide an improved clothes drying device, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efficient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a ring made either of any suitable metal such as tin or aluminum, or wood, or plastic, or of any other suitable material which is light yet strong. The ring 10 is pivotally connected, at opposite portions thereof, to the arms of a U-shaped bracket 12 which is also constructed of material preferably similar to that of the ring. The ring 10 is positioned between the ends of the arms of the U-shaped bracket and is connected thereto by pivotal connections provided by rivets, or the like, indicated at 14.

The ring 10 is swung to the vertical position, such as indicated in dotted outline in Fig. 1, when the device is folded for storage or carrying, and is swung to the full line position shown in Fig. .1, when it is to be put to use.

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When it is in its operative position, indicated in full line, it is maintained in such position by a brace bar 16. The bar 16 is pivotally connected to one arm of the bracket 12, as indicated at 18, and is provided at its opposite end with a hole or slot 20. When the ring 10 is in its operative position, the bar 20 is swung down into the full line position shown in Fig. 2 and the hole or slot 20 is engaged by the pin 22 connected to the ring 10. In this manner, the brace bar 16 acts to lock the ring 10 in its horizontal, operative position. On the other hand, when the device is to be folded into carrying position, the bar 16 is swung up into the vertical position in substantially the same plane as the bracket 12, and this permits the pivoting of the ring 10 into the vertical position. An upwardly extending eyelet 24 is provided on the bridge portion of the bracket 12, and an S-shaped hook 26 is connected to the eyelet. By means of this hook 26, the device can be hung from any convenient ledge or other support. Furthermore, the eyelet and hook arrangement permits substantially universal free play.

A straight rod 28 extends laterally from opposite sides of the eyelet and this rod 28 is provided with upstanding flanges 30 at each end.

In operation, the ring 10 is pivoted into its horizontal, operative position, and is fixed in such position by means of the brace bar 16. The device is then hung up in a convenient place by means of the hook 26.

Different articles of clothing, such as hosiery or the like may be draped or spread out upon the ring 10. If trousers, underpants, or the like, are to be dried, the waistband portion thereof is stretched over the ring 10, the ring then acting to frictionally support the garment at the top and to permit the legs thereof to freely hang down. In this manner, it is possible for a complete circulation of air to take place through the garment. Similarly, if a ladys slip, or the like, is to be dried, the ring 10 is placed within the waist portion of the slip and the shoulder straps thereof are hung over the lateral bar 28. This lateral bar 28 can also be used to support a shirt, blouse or coat by inserting the ends of the bar within the shoulders of the garment. In addition, the lateral bar 28 may also be used to support mens or womens hosiery, neckties, scarves or similar articles.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

In a clothes drying device, an inverted U-shaped supporting bracket, a transverse bar secured to the upper end thereof and having upturned extremities, a loop disposed centrally of said bar and the bight of said U -shaped, bracket supporting hook means engaging in said loop, a ring pivotally mounted between the lower extremities of said supporting bracket, said ring being swingable from a position perpendicular to said leg to a position parallel thereto, brace means for securing said ring in perpendicular position, said last mentioned means including a link, pivotally secured to one of the legs of said U-shaped bracket, a transverse pin at the free end of said link, said ring having an aperture therein for the reception of said pin, the length of said link being such that when said pin is engaged in said aperture said ring is held in perpendicular relation to said U-shaped supporting bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,184,724 Connor et a1. May 30, 1916 1,254,719 Moschcowitz Jan. 29, 1918 2,666,559 Wexlcr ct a1. Jan. 19, 1954 

